Regulator.



A. A. TIRRILL. REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s. 1916.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

WITNESSES:

v I INVENTOR 104. 2% mg 4. 77lW/7/ I ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENTonnrcn.

ALLEN A. TIBRILL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REGULATOR.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

- Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,274.

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Regulators,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical regulators of the vibratory-contacttype, and it has special reference to the structural features of suchregulators whereby their reliability of operation is improved.

The object of my invention is to provide a regulator that shall bepositive and accurate in operation and devoid of all inherent mechanicalvibrations which may prevent" the main contact members from making firmand positive electrical contact with each other.

My invention is panying drawing, front view of a portion of a regulatorem-, bodying a form illustrated in the accomof my invention, and Fig. 2is a side view showing in detail the mechanical connection between theplunger of the vibrating electromagnet and the lever controlling themovement of the movable main contact member'of the regulator.

The regulator comprises a cast metal base 1 that is provided on itsfront face with a bracket 2 upon which is ivotally mounted at 3 abell-crank lever 4. One arm of the lever 4 is substantiallyhorizontaland the other is substantially vertical, the latter beingbifurcated at its lower end to provide a pivot at 5 for a second lever6. A rightanglebracket 7 is secured to thelever 6 adjacent to the pivot5 and provides a mounting for a movable contact member 8 whichconstitutes one of the main contact members of the regulator. A secondcontact member 9, resiliently mounted upon a spring element 10 and abracket 11 extending from the base plate 1, cooperatively engages withthe movable contact member 8.

Engagement and disengagement between the two contact members .iseflfected by means of two alternating current electroma et 12 and 13 theformer being known as t e main control magnet and the latter as thevibrating magnet. The electromagnet 12 influences a core member 14 whichis attached by means of a rod 14 to one end of the lever 6. A slottedmember 15 incloses a projecting end 16 of the lever 6 for limit- Figure1 of which is a same time, a

ing the rocking moyement of the lever. A dash pot 17 retards themovement of the plunger 14. A counter-weight 18 is suspended by means ofa spring element 19 from the other end of the lever 6.

The electromagnet 13 which is continuously subjected to increasing anddecreasing excitations, in a well known manner which is common in allforms of regulators of this type, influences a plunger 20 that isconnected by means of a stem 21 and a mechanism 22 g to the horizontalarm of the bell-crank lever 4. A dash pot 23 retards the movement of"the plunger 20. A counter-weight 24 sus pended by a non-extensibleelement 25 is also attached to the extremity of the horizontal arm ofthe'bell-crank lever 4. The regulator shown in Fig. 1 is "fully andcompletely described in my copending application Serial No. 119,870,filed Sept. 13, 1916.

The present invention relates to the mechanism 22 which is interposed"between the plunger 20 of the vibrating electromagnet 13 and the leverscontrolling the engagement and disengagement of the main contact members8 and 9 of the regulator. With the stem 21 extending directly betweenthe lunger 20 and the lever 4, as in regulators eretofore constructed, avery pronounced vibration was transmitted to the lever 4 by reason ofthe alternating current impulses imparted by buzz was produced at thepin pivotally connecting the stem 21 to the lever. This vibration andbuzz was especially noticea ble when the regulator was subjected tonormal excitation since'the core 20 substantially floated, by reason ofthe balancing action between the core and counter-wieghts. Thisvibration decreased the firmness of conthe electromagnet 13. At the tactbetween the main contact members, and

in order to insure a more definite and firm engagement between the maincontactmem bers and conseguently improve the reliability of operation 0the regulator, the mechanism 22 is rovided.

By referring to that the stem 21 is Fig. 2, it will be noted firmlysecured to a link 26, secured to the horizontal arm of the lever.

ing current regulators because of the light tension that the spring 27exerts upon a pin 28 that, in turn, is the attaching means for the endof the lever 4 by means of the nonextensible element 25. If thecounter-Weight 24 were suspended by means of a spring, as

has heretofore been the usual practice, the vibration imparted to thelever 4 would be very much increased instead of reduced since themechanism 22 and a spring element for attaching the counter-weight 24would form a mechanical structure that would tend to resonate.

While I have described, in detail, one embodimentv of my invention, itwill be understood that many modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

-1. An electrical regulator of the vibratorycontact type comprising alever, a vibrating electromagnet having a plunger, a relatively heavyspring element, and a relatively light spring element located beside theheavy spring element and co-extensive therewith for connecting saidplunger t the lever.

2. An electrical regulator comprising a lever, a movable contact membercontrolled thereby, a cooperating stationary contact member, a vibratingelectromagnet, a plunger therefor, and spring elements of differentsizes for attaching said plunger to said lever. I

3.- An electrical regulator comprising a lever, a movable contact membercontrolled thereby, a cooperating stationary contact member, analternating current electromagnet, a plunger therefor, and meansforsecurproper times firmly engage with ing said plunger to said leverfor eflecting engagement and disengagement between the said contactmembers, said means comprising heavy and relatively light springelements for absorbing all vibrations imparted to said,- plunger wherebyfirm contact may be established between said contact members.

4. An electrical regulator comprising a lever, a contact membercontrolled thereby, a cooperating stationary contact member, analternating current vibrating electroinagnet, a plunger therefor, andheavy and relatively light spring elements for securing the plunger tothe end of said lever.

5. An electrical regulator of the vibratingcontact type comprising alever, an alternating current electromagnet, a plunger therefor, arelatively strong spring element for attaching said plunger adjacent toone end of said lever, and two relatively light spring elements disposedon opposite sides of said first spring element and co-extensivetherewith;

6. An electrical regulator of the vibratingcontact type comprising alever, an alternating current electromagnet, a plunger.

therefor, a relatively strong spring element for attaching said plungeradjacent to one end of said lever, two relatively light spring elementsdisposed on opposite sides of said first spring element and co-extensivetherewith, and a counter-weight attached to the extremity of said leveradjacent to said spring elements.

7 An electrical regulator of the vibratingcontact type comprising alever, an alternating current electromagnet, a plunger 90 v therefor, arelatively strong spring element for attaching said plunger adjacent toone end of said lever, two relatively light spring elements disposed onopposite sides of said first spring elementand co-extensive therewith,and a counter-weight attached. to the one extremity of said lever bymeans of a non-extensible member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day ofAugust,

ALLEN A. TIRRILL.

